UTEP Miners

UTEP XC’s Cheruiyot, Kibiego Eye National Title Saturday

11/17/2023 9:00:00 AM

EL PASO, Texas – UTEP cross country's Titus Cheruiyot and Victor Kibiego are set to compete at 2023 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships hosted by the University of Virginia at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, Va., on Saturday morning.

The race will be streamed on ESPN+, while fans can also tune into ESPNU with coverage beginning at 8:30 a.m. CT/7:30 MT.

The gun goes off for the men's 10k race at 9:10 a.m. MT/10:10 CT. The women will race at 8:20 a.m. MT. Live results here.

Both Kibiego and Cheruiyot are making their second career appearances at the NCAA Championships.

Kibiego, the sophomore sensation, will compete at the NCAA Championships for a second straight year after finishing 102^nd with a 30:12.7 as a freshman in 2022. He's the first male Miner to make back-to-back appearances in seven seasons when Jonah Koech did so during 2015 and 2016.

Cheruiyot is making his return to the championships as a senior as his previous appearance came as a freshman in 2019 where he ran a 32:21.3 (152^nd).

At regionals on Nov. 11, Kibiego, finished ninth with a 29:15.4 in the men's 10k event, and Cheruiyot, placed 13^th, clocking in a 29:20.8.

QUICK RUNDOWN – HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: ESPNU
Stream: ESPN+
Live Results: https://live.pttiming.com/xc-ptt.html?mid=5806
TFFRS: Cheruiyot | Kibiego | USTFCCCA Rankings

**UTEP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES**

MULTIPLE MINERS
With Titus Cheruiyot and Victor Kibiego headed to the NCAAs, it's the first time since 2016 that multiple Miners will compete at the men's championship. UTEP sent seven student athletes (Jonah Koech, Antony Kosgei, Cosmas Boit, Michael Saruni, Daniel Cheruiyot, Emmanuel Korir and Evans Kiprono) during the 2016 season.

BACK-TO-BACK
Victor Kibiego is making back-to-back appearances at the championships. He's the first male Miner since Jonah Koech to do so (2015, 2016).

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
A trio of Miners won the national championship during a four-year span. Suleiman Nyambui took home the title in 1980 clocking a 29:04.0, while Mathews Motshwarateu made it back-to-back crowns for UTEP in 1981 with a 28:45.6. Zakariah Barie won the national championship in 1983 with a 29:20.0.

FAMILIAR FACE
Current UTEP Associate Head Cross Country Coach and Mircea Bogdan was a 2003 NCAA Cross Country All-American with a 22^nd place finish while competing with the Miners.

THE LAST TIME…
Jonah Koech and Anthony Rotich were the last Miners to earn All-American status as they did so during the 2015 season. Koech finished 11^th while Rotich placed 15^th. Zakariah Barie was the last Miner to win a national championship (1983).

MORE ON ROTICH'S NATIONAL APPEARANCES
Anthony Rotich came close to claiming a championship when he finished in fourth during the 2012 season. Rotich followed with a 19^th place showing in 2013 and an 11^th place finish in 2014 followed by 15^th in 2015.

For complete coverage of UTEP Track & Field/Cross Country, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPTrack (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.

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